The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Theophilus the Goth
fl. AD 325–341 (death unrecorded) · Bishop of Gothia · Predecessor of Ulfilas · Gothia (beyond the Danube)
The Nicene Age
Who Theophilus the Goth was
'Theophilus of Gothia' among the subscribers of Nicaea — a bishop for the Christians beyond the Danube a full generation before Ulfilas's consecration, proof that the gospel had crossed the river with the captives of the third-century raids and organized itself there. The Gothic church's first name signs the church's first ecumenical document.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees.
Common questions
When was Theophilus active?
Theophilus the Goth is dated fl. AD 325–341 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Theophilus in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400).
Which early sources mention Theophilus?
Theophilus the Goth is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from The 318 Fathers and Socrates Scholasticus. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Theophilus from?
The archive associates Theophilus the Goth with Gothia (beyond the Danube).
Who were Theophilus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Theophilus the Goth to 1 other figure, including Constantine the Great. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Nicaea subscription list (325)
c. AD 325Theophilus of Gothia — metropolitan, as later memory styled him, of the churches beyond the Danube.The 318 Fathers · source text
Ecclesiastical History II.41 (Ulfilas 'successor of Theophilus')
c. AD 440Ulfilas, bishop of the Goths, was the successor of Theophilus, who was present at the council of Nicaea and subscribed the Nicene creed.Socrates Scholasticus · Ecclesiastical History II.41 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 272 · Aurelian awards the Antioch church, AD 272
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
- AD 306 · The Council of Elvira, AD 306
- AD 311 · Galerius’ edict of Serdica, AD 311
- AD 313 · The Edict of Milan, AD 313
- AD 314 · The Council of Arles, AD 314
- AD 320 · Silvanus tried before Zenophilus, AD 320
- AD 325 · The Council of Nicaea, AD 325
- AD 339 · The persecution of Shapur II, AD 339
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Theophilus.
- 1Gothiaprovince only